French Ex-Official Faces Claims of Drugging 100 Women During Job Interviews
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
French Ex-Official Faces Claims of Drugging 100 Women During Job Interviews
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
Police say Christian Nègre, a former senior civil servant and HR director in eastern France, is accused of slipping diuretics into drinks offered to more than 100 women he met for job interviews between 2009 and 2018.
Diuretics, typically prescribed for high blood pressure, can sharply increase urination; one woman, Marie-Hélène Brice, said she was hit by sudden, severe bladder pain during a 2016 interview walk and later learned she was part of the investigation.
The cases have not yet gone to trial, and the slow legal process has fueled criticism from campaigners who say France still fails to address abuse against women effectively, especially in large-scale cases.
The renewed attention comes as France is still grappling with the Gisèle Pelicot case, which intensified scrutiny of how the justice system handles drugging and sexual abuse.
How did a French ministry official allegedly abuse hundreds of women for a decade undetected?
As justice stalls for Nègre's victims, are online 'Rape Academies' France's next crisis?
Why is a man accused of drugging 249 women still free seven years after being charged?
Justice Delayed: The Christian Nègre Case and the Systemic Failure to Protect Over 100 Women in French Workplaces
Overview
As of May 2026, the legal process against Christian Nègre remains stalled, with no trial date set and Nègre still living freely. Despite ongoing investigations into accusations that he drugged over 100 women with diuretics during job interviews between 2009 and 2018, progress has been slow. Nègre admitted to administering diuretics and taking photographs when questioned in 2019, but has not apologized to the victims. The prolonged investigation has caused frustration among those affected, highlighting concerns about the pace of justice and the challenges victims face in seeking accountability.